Bankroll management: setting stakes, using units and handling losing runs

Set the budget first

Before placing a bet, decide how much you could afford to lose this month without affecting rent, bills, savings or your peace of mind. That is your bankroll. Keep it separate from your everyday money, ideally in its own account or wallet, and do not add to it halfway through the month after a run of losses.

Once the bankroll is gone, stop for the month. That simple boundary can prevent much of the harm betting may cause.

Units and flat stakes

Split your bankroll into units worth 1–2% each. With a budget of 200, for example, one unit would be 2 to 4. Stake one unit on every tip, whatever your opinion of it. Flat stakes help stop one bad day from wiping out your budget and make your results easier to compare with other records.

Kuponcu records every tip as exactly one unit for the same reason. Our results in units show what you would have made by staking the same amount on every tip at the published odds.

How long can a losing run be?

Losing runs can last longer than most people expect. Over 100 tips, the chance of experiencing at least one run of consecutive losses is:

• For tips that win 45% of the time: 5 losses in a row 92%, 8 in a row 31%, 10 in a row 10%.
• For tips that win 55% of the time: 5 losses in a row 65%, 8 in a row 8%, 10 in a row 2%.
• At 2% per unit, ten losses in a row cost a fifth of the bankroll. That hurts, but the bankroll survives. At 10% per bet, the same run wipes it out.

Things that ruin a bankroll

• Chasing losses: increasing your stake to win back what you have lost is one of the quickest ways to turn a normal losing run into a serious loss.
• Increasing stakes after a win: one lucky week does not prove that you have an edge.
• Betting on everything: more bets at worse prices simply mean paying more margin.
• Long accumulators: they combine high odds, a larger margin and a low chance of winning.
• Taking odds below the minimum price: the value is no longer there.
• Using money that is not part of your betting budget.

When to stop

Stop for the month when the bankroll runs out, and take a break whenever betting stops being enjoyable. If you recognise any of the warning signs on our responsible gambling page, speak to someone. The support services listed there are free and confidential.